Snap Lock Leaf Guard

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides a leaf guard system of interlocking corrugated leaf guards, wherein the corrugated section of the leaf guard provides an air space between a top surface of the leaf guard and any leaves that may come to rest on it. The space created by the corrugated structure helps dry the leaves quickly thus allowing the leaves to blow off the guard quickly, thereby reducing the adhesion of a wet leaves to a flat surface. The leaf guards include tapered drain openings within the corrugated section of the leaf guard that decrease the possibility of water running over the leaf guard and thus not into the gutter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application incorporates by reference and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/885,656 filed on Oct. 2, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to a corrugated lay-in plastic leaf guard. More specifically, the present invention relates to a corrugated lay-in plastic leaf guard with improved water flow that includes a tongue and groove end design that keeps the ends in alignment and has a continuous drip edge along the front.

Gutter covers are used to prevent debris such as leaves and twigs from entering and blocking the water flow of a gutter. The covers typically extend from the roofline of a building to the outside rim or edge of the gutter. The covers typically include holes, slits, or troughs to allow water to flow through the cover into the gutter channel. By preventing the accumulation of debris in gutters, the gutter covers allow homeowners and maintenance workers to avoid the problems associated with blocked or clogged gutters without having to manually, periodically cleaning the gutters.

However, conventional gutter covers have several disadvantages. For example, conventional solutions are simple designs that do not incorporate any features that improve water flow, reduce leaf adhesion or reduce complications of installation. For example, conventional gutter covers are cumbersome, difficult, and even dangerous to install, and may require professional installment.

Further, many conventional gutter covers that include a single, planar structure extending from a roofline to the gutter outer rim provide an ideal environment for bees and other insects to nest. In addition, the planar structures of conventional gutter covers have a tendency to keep leaves and debris wet and adhered to the top surface of the gutter cover. As a result, the gutter covers become covered with debris that blocks the openings in the cover to allow rainwater to move through. Therefore, the adhered debris must be removed manually, entirely negating the purpose of a gutter cover to prevent owners from having to clean their gutters.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lay-in leaf guard that improves water flow, reduces leaf adhesion and is simple to install, as described herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a complete, corrugated, lay-in, plastic, leaf guard that is simple to install and efficient.

The corrugated, lay-in, plastic, leaf guard allows an air space to be maintained between the guard and any leaves that may come to rest on it. The space created by the corrugated structure helps the leaves to dry quickly, thus allowing the leaves to blow off the guard quickly, thereby reducing the adhesion of wet leaves to the leaf guard (which is a significant issue for leaf guards that are a generally flat surface). The lay-in design of the leaf guard does not require the shingles on a roof to be pulled up for installation, thereby eliminating the possibility of damaging the shingles during the leaf guard's installation. Shingle damage is one potential cause for the formation of ice dams along the roofline.

In addition, the leaf guard includes tapered drain openings within the corrugated section of the leaf guard that help to decrease the possibility of water running over the leaf guard and not into the gutter. As described further herein, some of the holes may have an elongated shape and many or all of the holes may include a tapered cross section. Each of these hole designs help to improve water flow through the leaf guard by increasing the time in which gravity can act on the water and decreasing the water surface adhesion with the sides of the holes as the water funnels through the holes.

The leaf guard is also designed with a continuous drip edge at the front edge to allow any water that may overflow the guard to drip off and help to prevent dirt from “tiger striping” the front of the gutter below. This leading edge also includes slots for quick installation of fasteners. The end of the guard also has a tongue (alignment tab) and groove (receiver slot) design that keeps the ends aligned and supported should the end joint be offset from the gutter supports. Also with this tongue and groove is a fastener opening for a screw to be installed to keep the sections of guards from separating. Small diverter ridges are located on the groove end of the guard to direct any water flowing over this area back to the holes.

To meet the needs described above and others, the present disclosure provides a complete leaf guard designed to reduce the amount of debris from entering the gutters and maximize the amount of water to flow through them. The lay-in design helps to eliminate damage to the roof shingles and decrease the installation time. The hole pattern, shape, and cross section help to maximize the water flow through the guard. The end design keeps the individual sections of guard from separating, holds them in alignment with each other, and minimizes any sagging between gutter supports. The front edge has been designed to reduce the possibility of tiger striping to occur on the front of the gutter.

In an embodiment, the leaf guard system disclosed herein is configured to attach to a gutter connected to a foundation structure, wherein the leaf guard system includes at least one leaf guard. The leaf guard includes a first guard end including a top end, a linear body, and a bottom end, wherein the linear body connects the top end and the bottom end, wherein the top end is positioned generally vertically above the bottom end, wherein the bottom end is configured to attach to the foundation structure. The leaf guard also includes a second guard end including a second guard tab configured to attach to a gutter edge, and a corrugated section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end. The corrugated section includes a plurality of panels, wherein at least a portion of the panels include drain openings to permit water to pass through into the gutter.

In an example, the second guard end includes a drip edge extending from the corrugated section, wherein the second guard tab extends from the corrugated section, wherein the drip edge extends above and beyond the second guard tab.

In another example, the plurality of panels are planar, wherein the plurality of panels form a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys.

The drain openings may be cylindrically tapered. In an example, a cross section of the drain opening is oblong. In addition, the drain openings may be included on alternating panels of the plurality of panels.

The leaf guard may include a first side end and a second side end, wherein each of the plurality of panels extend from the first side end to the second side end. The first side end includes an alignment tab and the second side end includes a receiver slot configured to receive the alignment tab of a second leaf guard.

In an embodiment, the leaf guard may include a first guard end including a top end that, in use, is positioned at a height above a bottom end, a second guard end that, in use, is positioned below the height of the top end, and a segmented section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end. The segmented section may include a series of adjacently positioned panels, wherein at least two of the adjacently positioned panels include drain openings and are oriented at and angle with respect to each other to form a peak or valley.

An objective of the invention is to provide a solution to the complicated and cumbersome installation of current leaf guard products. Another objective is to maximize the quantity of water to flow through the guard. Yet another objective is to provide a simple solution to bridging the gutter supports.

An advantage of the invention is to reduce the adhesion of wet leaves to the guard surface.

Another advantage of the invention is that it reduces or eliminates the possibility of tiger striping to occur on the front of the gutter below.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the examples will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by production or operation of the examples. The objects and advantages of the concepts may be realized and attained by means of the methodologies, instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present concepts, by way of example only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an example of a leaf guard installed in a standard eave and gutter assembly.

FIG. 2A is a top view of an example of a leaf guard system disclosed herein.

FIG. 2B is a top view of an example of a leaf guard as disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the leaf guard indicated in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the leaf guard indicated in FIG. 2B.

FIGS. 5A-5B are cross sectional views of the leaf guard indicated in FIG. 2B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure provides a leaf guard system 10 comprising a leaf guard 11 configured to attach to a gutter 15 connected to a foundation structure 48, such as a building, a house, or any structural entity. As shown in FIG. 1, a first guard end 12 of the system 10 connects to a building and a second guard end 14 connects to an outer gutter edge 26 of a gutter 15. A corrugated section 16 connects the first guard end 12 to the second guard end 14, wherein the corrugated section covers at least a portion of the opening of the gutter 15.

The first guard end 12 may connect to a building or an inner edge of a gutter 15 by any suitable means including, but not limited to, a pressure fit, or fasteners including nails, screws, latches, bolts, screws, or hooks, among others. The first guard end 12 may include a top end 18 and a bottom end 22, wherein the top end 18 is connected to the bottom end 22 by a linear body 20. The top end 18 is positioned generally vertically above the bottom end 22. The bottom end 22 may include a bottom end tab 23 that is configured to attach to an inner gutter edge 25, or to the foundation structure 48. The bottom end tab 23 may connected to the foundation structure 48 or the inner gutter edge 25 by any suitable means including a pressure fit or by a fastener, such as nails, screws, latches, bolts, screws, or hooks, among others.

The second guard end 14 includes a second guard tab 24 configured to attach to an outer gutter edge 26. The second guard tab 24 may attach to the outer gutter edge 26 by an suitable mechanism including, but not limited to, a pressure fit or by a fastener, such as nails, screws, latches, bolts, screws, or hooks, among others. As shown, the second guard end 14 may include a fastener opening 38 through which a fastener may be positioned. The second guard end 14 may also include a drip edge 32 that is positioned above the second guard tab 24, such that the drip edge 32 extends beyond the second guard tab 24 in order to direct water running off the corrugated section 16 to the ground, avoiding the second guard end 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second guard tab 24 and the bottom end 22, including the bottom end tab 23, are in the same horizontal plane. As explained above, the top end 18 of the first guard end 12 is positioned above the bottom end 22 of the first guard end 12. As such, the corrugated section 16 slopes from the top end 18 to the second guard end 14 at a declined angle. Of course, it is contemplated the corrugated section may be positioned within the same plane as the bottom end 22 and the second guard tab 24.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the system 10 including a first leaf guard 11 and a second leaf guard 13. FIG. 2B is a top view of an example of the first leaf guard 11. FIGS. 3-4 are two different cross sectional views of the width of the leaf guard 11. As shown, the corrugated section 16 includes a plurality of panels 28 that are individually planar to form a corrugated top surface 62, wherein all of the plurality of panels 28 are not within the same plane. In other words, the panels 28 are positioned to create a corrugated top surface 62 including a plurality of peaks 34 and valleys 36. Because the corrugated section 16 includes a plurality of peaks 34 and valleys 36, leaves and debris do not remain adhered to a surface of the leaf guard. Instead, the corrugated section 16 creates pockets of space that enable wet leaves and debris to dry and fall or slide off the leaf guard 11. In another example, the corrugated section 16 may form an undulating sinusoidal or a zig-zag cross section.

The panels 28 may include drain openings 30. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the drain openings 30 are on alternating panels 28. Of course, the drain openings 30 may be on consecutive panels 28. The drain openings 30 may be any suitable shape and arranged in any suitable pattern. For example, the drain openings 30 may be cylindrical. In an example, the drain openings 30 are tapered. For example, an upper portion of the drain opening 30 may be cylindrical and a lower portion may be tapered.

In another example, the drain openings 30 may be conical. For example, the opening on a top surface 50 of the panel 28 is larger than the opening on a bottom surface 52 of the panel 28. Specifically, the corrugated section may include a corrugated top surface 50 and a corrugated bottom surface 51. In such case, each of the drain openings 30 may include a top opening 70 on the corrugated top surface 50 and a bottom opening 72 on the corrugated bottom surface 51, wherein the top opening 70 has a greater surface area than the bottom opening 72.

In addition, the pattern of the drain openings 30 within the panel 28 maybe positioned in any geometrical pattern. The drain openings 30 may be aligned in a linear manner, staggered, or in any suitable shape, including, but not limited to square, rectangular, circular, oblong, etc. For example, a cross section of the drain opening 30 may be square, rectangular, circular, oblong, triangular, among other shapes. In an example, the panels 28 include drain openings 30 having a cross sectional shape of alternating circular and oblong drain openings 30. As shown in FIG. 2B, the drain openings 30 are arranged in a pattern of alternating circular and oblong shapes.

The amount of drain openings 30 per panel 28 may be consistent among the plurality of panels 28, or the amount of drain openings 30 per panel may vary. In an example, the amount of drain openings 30 per panel may be between, and including, 1 and 10 openings, 1 to 8, 2 to 6, 3 to 5, among others.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross sections along the length of the leaf guard 11, wherein the specific cross sections are indicated in FIG. 2B. As shown in FIG. 5A, a first side end 54 of the leaf guard 11 may include an alignment tab 40 that may be used to connect a first leaf guard 11 to a second leaf guard 13. As shown in FIG. 5B, the second side end 56 may also include a receiver slot 44 to receive an alignment tab 40 of a second leaf guard 13. In other words, the receiver slot 44 and the alignment tab 40 are configured to enable a plurality of leaf guards 11 to interlock. In other words, the leaf guard system 10 may include one or more leaf guards 11.

The alignment tab 40 of a first leaf guard 11 may engage with the receiver slot 44 of the second leaf guard 13 in any suitable manner. For example, the alignment tab 40 of a first leaf guard 11 may engage with the receiver slot 44 of the second leaf guard 13 by a pressure fit, by snapping into the receiver slot 44, or by a fastener. The fastener may be any suitable fastener including, but not limited to, a nail, screw, latch, bolt, clasp, etc.

For example, the receiver slot 44 may include a top portion 58 and a bottom portion 60, wherein the space between the top portion 58 and bottom portion 60 is the receiver slot 44. The top portion 58 may include a fastener opening 46 positioned through a top portion 58 of the receiver slot 44. As a result, when an alignment tab 40 of a first leaf guard 11 is inserted into a receiver slot 44 of the second leaf guard 13, a fastener may be positioned in the fastener opening 46 of the top portion 58 to connect the first leaf guard 11 to the second leaf guard 13.

A second side end 56 may include at least one diverter ridge 42 on a top surface of the receiver slot 44, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2B and 5B. The diverter ridge 42 may be an apex or any projection from the top surface of the top portion 58 of the receiver slot 44. The diverter ridge 42 is typically a linear projection or ridge from the top surface of the top portion 58 that directs or diverts water, such as rain fall, into the drain openings 30 and/or otherwise off of the leaf guard 11.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. For example, various embodiments of the system may be provided based on various combinations of the features and functions from the subject matter provided herein. 

We claim:
 1. A leaf guard system configured to attach to a gutter connected to a foundation structure, the leaf guard system comprising: a leaf guard including a first guard end including a top end, a linear body, and a bottom end, wherein the linear body connects the top end and the bottom end, wherein the top end is positioned generally vertically above the bottom end, wherein the bottom end includes a first guard tab, wherein the first guard tab is configured to attach to the foundation structure; a second guard end including a second guard tab configured to attach to a gutter edge; and a corrugated section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end, wherein the corrugated section includes a plurality of panels forming a corrugated top surface, wherein at least a portion of the panels include drain openings to permit water to pass through into the gutter.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second guard end includes a drip edge extending from the corrugated section, wherein the second guard tab extends from the corrugated section, wherein the drip edge extends above and beyond the second guard tab.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first guard tab is in the same horizontal plane as the second guard tab.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of panels are planar, wherein the plurality of panels form a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of panels include five planar panels, wherein the corrugated section includes at least two peaks and at least two valleys.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the drain openings are tapered.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the corrugated section includes a corrugated bottom surface, wherein each of the drain openings include a top opening on the corrugated top surface and a bottom opening on the corrugated bottom surface, wherein the top opening has a greater surface area than the bottom opening.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the drain openings are included on alternating panels of the plurality of panels.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the leaf guard includes a first side end and a second side end, wherein each of the plurality of panels extend from the first side end to the second side end, wherein the first side end includes an alignment tab, wherein the second side end includes a receiver slot configured to receive the alignment tab of a second leaf guard.
 10. A leaf guard for use in association with a gutter system comprising: a first guard end including a top end that, in use, is positioned at a height above a bottom end; a second guard end that, in use, is positioned below the height of the top end; and a segmented section connecting the top end of the first guard end to the second guard end, wherein the segmented section includes a series of adjacently positioned panels, wherein at least two of the adjacently positioned panels include drain openings and are oriented at and angle with respect to each other to form a peak or valley.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the bottom end includes a first guard tab configured to attach to a foundation structure.
 12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second guard end includes a drip edge and a second guard tab, wherein the second guard tab is configured to attach to a gutter edge, wherein the drip edge extends from the segmented section, wherein the second guard tab extends from the segmented section, wherein the drip edge is positioned above the second guard tab, wherein the drip edge extends beyond the second guard tab.
 13. The system of claim 10 wherein each panel is planar.
 14. The system of claim 10 wherein the segmented section includes five planar panels, wherein the panels form at least two peaks and at least two valleys.
 15. The system of claim 10 wherein the drain openings are tapered. 